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<title>KeyCommander - An open source hardware programmable LCD keypad - Why use it</title>
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    <a href="index.html"><img src="top_image.jpg" width="950" height="200" alt="KeyCommander" border="0" /></a> 
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            <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li>
            <li><a href="what.html">What is it</a></li>
            <li><a href="why.html"><u>Why use it</u></a></li>
            <li><a href="how.html">How does it work</a></li>
            <li><a href="who.html">Who makes it</a></li>
            <li><a href="where.html">Where to get it</a></li>
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                <li><a href="http://code.google.com/p/keycommander/">Design files</a></li>
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    	<img src="LCD_test_green.jpg" width="248" height="234" alt="LCD key test" />
        <h2>Status:</h2>
        (3 March 2011)
        <h3>Initial design</h3>
        <p>Please check back soon!</p>
        <br />
        <h2>In Progress:</h2>
        <menu>
            <li type="disc">Developing prototype PCB for further testing</li>
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        <br />
        <h2>Completed:</h2>
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            <li type="disc">LCD backlight control</li>
            <li type="disc">LCD graphics control</li>
			<li type="disc">USB enumeration</li>
			<li type="disc">USB data transfer (IN/OUT)</li>
			<li type="disc">HID keyboard functionality</li>
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        <h1> KeyCommander - Why use it</h1>
        <h2>Why I use it</h2>
        <p>This project was started because I have been looking for the perfect user input device
        for a long time, but cannot find what I want. 
        I have come to realise that there is no single input device that is sufficient, but even several 
        devices in combination have something missing. <br />
        The combination of devices I currently use are:
        
        <h3>Keyboard</h3>
        <p>Can't really get rid of the keyboard, though it is used more for keyboard shortcuts than for typing.
        Some gaming keyboards have extra programmable keys etc but they are large and chunky, taking up 
        too much desktop space for the possible benefit.</p>
        
        <h3>Mouse</h3>
        <p>The scroll wheel is necessary for scrolling through long documents, particularly Logitech 
		"SmartShift" scroll wheels.
		Many have programmable buttons which can be useful, but it can be difficult to remember what 
		function was assigned for each button if they are customised for each application.
        The number of buttons that can be reached easily are also limited.</p>
		
        <h3>Graphics Tablet</h3>
        <p><em>(Wacom Intuos 4, medium)</em>
		Very useful for fine control, not only in graphics software.
		This tablet is really nice, and has 8 programmable buttons with an OLED display next to each 
        one (not in the small version unfortunately). 
		The software allows auto-switching of profiles, and the OLED displays make the programmable keys 
		actually useful. 
		The major downside is that the buttons require too much force to press and cannot easily be found 
		and identified without looking.</p>
        
        <h3>3D Controller</h3>
        <p><em>(3D Connexion SpaceNavigator)</em>
		Very useful for 3D navigation, both in 2D applications such as graphics and 2D CAD software 
		(2D movement + zoom) and in 3D applications such as 3D CAD and modelling software. The more 
		advanced (expensive) models have many more programmable buttons but they don't 
		have a display, so are not that useful unless you only use them in one program.</p>
        
        <h3>The Missing Functionality ... KeyCommander!</h3>
        <p>Programmable buttons with automatic profile switching, easy to press, easy to locate by feel, 
        and with a nice LCD display to remind you of the key functions if (when) you forget.</p>
		<p>With the KeyCommander, there is no need to have one hand jumping around hunting for shortuct 
		combinations. For many applications, the keyboard can be kept out of the way until it is needed 
		for typing, leaving room on your desk for design documents, a graphics tablet, or a notepad.
		In applications where typing is necessary (eg programming), a KeyCommander next to the keyboard 
		can take care of the most commonly typed declarations or keyboard shortcuts.</p>
        
        <h2>Why you may want to use it</h2>
        <p>Perhaps for similar reasons to me, perhaps for a completely different application, or maybe 
        you just like the look of it. As an open source hardware project you are free to modify it and use it 
        for pretty much anything!</p>
        <p>The KeyCommander is not even limited to use as a USB keyboard, with very minor modification 
        to the USB code it can be made to act as another USB HID device, or even multiple devices. 
        If you really wanted to, keys could be programmed to control mouse and joystick movements as 
        well as keypresses.</p>
        <p>Additional software on the PC could also use the LCD keys to display data such as email 
        alerts, appointments, news feeds, system performance, a clock, or pretty much anything you want. 
        The possible applications are endless...</p>
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        <p>Copyright &copy; 2011 Daniel Watman. All rights reserved.</p>
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